Psalms 78:47-48
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The text highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This isn't just about crops; the sycamore was a vital tree for Egyptian life, used for wood and providing fruit, showing that God’s judgment targeted deeply ingrained aspects of their society and economy.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, contrasting His faithfulness with their repeated unfaithfulness, using history as a lesson. The psalmist shifts between different periods, focusing here on the plagues God sent upon Egypt to deliver His people, detailing the destruction inflicted upon the land's precious resources. These specific verses describe how God ruined their vines and sycamore trees, significant elements of Egyptian agriculture and livelihood, as part of His powerful judgment.
The Bible describes God’s judgment with vivid, sometimes surprising, details. What’s the deeper meaning behind a plague of hail and frost?
The Plagues: More Than Natural Disasters
Psalm 78 recounts the plagues God sent on Egypt. While these events are often described with natural phenomena like hail and frost, they were far from ordinary.
The psalmist uses these specific details to remind Israel of the immense power God displayed on their behalf, urging them to remember His mighty acts.
The psalm doesn't just list judgments; it calls for remembrance. Why is remembering God's past actions so crucial for His people?
The Cycle of Forgetfulness and Judgment
Psalm 78 is a powerful reminder to Israel of their history, particularly their tendency to forget God's mighty deeds.
This psalm vividly recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, particularly the plagues of Egypt and the wilderness journey, to urge His people to remember His faithfulness and avoid their ancestors' stubborn disobedience.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after generations of slavery, marking the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years, a period marked by both God's provision and Israel's rebellion.
c. 13th century BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin to conquer the Promised Land, displacing the Canaanite inhabitants.
c. 1200-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
A tumultuous era following the conquest, characterized by cycles of Israelite disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and divine deliverance through judges.
c. 1047-1007 BC
This passage directly recounts the plague of hail in Egypt, aligning with the psalm's mention of hail destroying crops and trees.
Psalm 105:33This psalm also references the destruction of Egypt's trees by hail and frost during the plagues, echoing the imagery and historical event described in Psalm 78.
Hosea 2:12This prophetic passage speaks of God withholding the fruits of the land, including vineyards, as a consequence of sin, paralleling the theme of divine judgment on agricultural produce.
Isaiah 32:19This verse speaks of hail flattening the forest and the city being brought low, illustrating the destructive power of hail on vegetation and structures, similar to the effects described in the psalm.
poolePsalms 78:47: "He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost."
Sycomore trees; or, wild fig trees , which were there in great plenty. Under these and the vines all other trees are comprehended. And this hail and frost did destroy the fruits of the trees, and sometimes the trees themselves.
clarkePsalms 78:47: "He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost."
He destroyed their vines with hail - Though the vine was never plentiful in Egypt, yet they have some; and the wine made in that country is among the most delicious. The leaf of the vine is often used by the Egyptians of the present day for wrapping up their mince-meat, which they lay leaf upon leaf, season it after their fashion, and so cook it, making it a most exquisite sort of food, according to Mr. Mai…
The text highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This isn't just about crops; the sycamore was a vital tree for Egyptian life, used for wood and providing fruit, showing that God’s judgment targeted deeply ingrained aspects of their society and economy.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, contrasting His faithfulness with their repeated unfaithfulness, using history as a lesson. The psalmist shifts between different periods, focusing here on the plagues God sent upon Egypt to deliver His people, detailing the destruction inflicted upon the land's precious resources. These specific verses describe how God ruined their vines and sycamore trees, significant elements of Egyptian agriculture and livelihood, as part of His powerful judgment.
This psalm recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, contrasting His faithfulness with their repeated unfaithfulness, using history as a lesson. The psalmist shifts between different periods, focusing here on the plagues God sent upon Egypt to deliver His people, detailing the destruction inflicted upon the land's precious resources. These specific verses describe how God ruined their vines and sycamore trees, significant elements of Egyptian agriculture and livelihood, as part of His powerful judgment.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Psalms 78:47-48 is available in the Sola app.
By remembering these “wonders,” Israel could learn to trust God more deeply and avoid repeating the mistakes of their ancestors.
David Reigns as King
David unites the kingdom and establishes Jerusalem as the capital, ushering in a golden age for Israel.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
Following Solomon's death, the united kingdom splits into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah.
Date uncertain, likely post-division of kingdoms— this verse
Psalm 78 Composed
Asaph, a Levite musician, or a later psalmist compiles this psalm, reflecting on Israel's history from Egypt to the establishment of David's kingdom.
"He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost. He gave over their cattle to the hail and their flocks to thunderbolts." — The text highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This isn't just about crops; the sycamore was a vital tree for Egyptian life, used for wood and providing fr…
